Improvement



2ShG6T$-Sh88ti. T. WILSON & A. CRAWFOR D.

Improvement in Marine-Drag or Floating-Anchor.

NO-129,878. PatentedJuIyQB, 1872.

witnesses Inventor.

2 Sheets Sheet 2.

*T,WILSON8LA.CRAWFORD lmprovementin MdHne-Drag orFWoahng-Anchon PatentedJuly 23,1872.

Inventor.

Witnesses. mfgrw UNITED STATES Qrrron IMPROVEMENT n. MARIN-E DRAG-S ORFLOATINGANCHQRS.

. Specification formin g part of Letters Patent No. 129,878, dated July23, 1872.

Specification describing an Improved Drag- Anchor, invented by THOMASWILSON and ALEXANDER CRAWFORD, both of Detroit, in the county of Wayneand State of Michigan.

This invention relates to means by which to hold a vessel againstdrifting when disabled or unmanageable, and when the vessel is offsoundings, or when, from any other cause, ordinary anchors cannot beused or are insuflicient. The improved drag-anchor or drag presents as aresistance a large square of canvas, or equivalent material, and isfloatedbelow the influence of surface currents and waves by a buoy. Thecanvas is stretched and supported by a light and strong metallic frameand stay-ropes. When the drag. is not required it may be detached fromits cable and buoy and collapsed by simply releasing a spring catch orkey, and folding the frame with the canvas and stay-ropes within thesame, and thus stowed away ready for immediate use when again required.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of thedrag-anchor and its buoy as in use. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the dragas compacted for stowage when not in use. Fig. 3 is alongitudinalsection of the drag in working condition.

In carrying out the invention a folding metallic frame of peculiarconstruction forms the basis. This is composed, in chief, of a straightaxial rod or stem, A, a stationary collar or disk, B, and a slidingcollar or disk, 0, on the stem; four radial rods or ribs, D, hinged 'tothe stationary collar, and rods or struts E connectin g the ribs andsliding collar, so that by shifting the latter the ribs may be extendedor collapsed. The stationary collar B is secured at one end of the stemA between screw-nuts z, or their equivalent, andthe other end of saidstem is formed witha ring, y, for the attachment of the cable F, alsostay-ropes G, which extend to eyes or formed at the extremities of theribs D. Behind the stationary collar, B on its end of the stem A,an-eye-nut or swivel, w, is attached by screw-nut t, or its equivalent,secured by a key or rivet to prevent unscrewing. To this the hawser H ofthe buoy I is attached when the drag is to beused. To

furnish the necessary resisting or holding surface a square sheet,vJ, ofcanvas or other sufficiently strong, durable, and impervious material,is employed. This is applied to the face of the ribs 'D, and secured bycorner loops at to the eyes :0 at the ends of the same; or it may besewed or laced to the ribs. It may be strengthened by hemming, cording,and eyeleting in the usual manner, and may be composed of two or morethicknesses, if necessary. In practice we prefer to employ canvasprepared or coated with a suitable material to prevent decaying ormildewing. The size of this canvas may be about nine feet square, moreor less, according to thesize of the vessel with which it is to be used.It will present a perfectly flat surface, and be positively supportedagainst sagging and undue strain on its fastenings by the ribs andcollar or disk behind it. A shoulder, t, is formed on the stem A tosupport the slide 0 when the ribs are properly open, and a spring-catch,8, holds the same thereagainst, so as to prevent the drag collapsingaccidentally. Keys, or simple transverse pins, may be substituted forthe shoulder t and catch 8, or either of them. The collars or disks B Gare formed with radial arms, so as to afford a properly extended spacefor the reception of the canvas and ropes when the drag is collapsed, asrepresented in Fig. 2. The hinge-joints 1 1) between the stationarycollar B and ribs D, sliding collar 0 and rods E, and ribs D and rods E,may be of any approved form.

It is obvious that a larger number of ribs and their accessories may beused, so as to give the drag an approximately circular form, ifpreferred.

In operation, the drag presents eighty square feet (more or less) ofresisting surface, and is supported in heavy water, below the action ofsurface currents and waves, by the buoy I. When it is desired to take inthe drag it is heaved to the bow of the vessel, as an ordinary anchor;the buoy-rope is then fished up, and assists in taking the anchor onboard. I

To adapt it to be stowed away it is detached from the cable F and hawserH,the slide 0 released from the spring-catch s, and the frame, canvas,and stay-ropes folded into-the shape represented in Fig. 2. It is thusalways ready for immediate use. When again required it is only necessaryto attach the cable and buoyhawser, and to force the slide 0 intoengagement with the catch 8.

In dropping anchor, the drag is lowered into the water by the cable andbuoy-rope together, and the buoy is then let go.

Claims.

The following is claimed as new: 1. A drag-anchor constructed with afolding frame and a web of canvas or other flexi-

